Everything you need to know about the Certificate of Origin

The certificate of origin is an official document used in international trade to attest to the origin of exported goods. These certificates are issued by the countries' chambers of commerce.

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What is the purpose of a certificate of origin?

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1. Determining customs duties and complying with European trade agreements : Import customs duties vary depending on the country of origin of the goods. A certificate of origin makes it possible to apply the correct customs tariffs, especially important for the EU which has agreements with various countries. These agreements, such as those with Japan or South Korea, offer discounts or exemptions from customs duties for products from signatory countries thanks to the certificate of origin. [List of countries with which the EU maintains agreements]
2. Proof of compliance with trade regulations and restrictions : Some countries impose restrictions or quotas on the import of goods from certain countries. Within the European Union, the certificate of origin is used to verify that imported goods comply with these regulations, in particular those imposed by specific trade agreements.
3. Quality control and standards : In some cases, certificates of origin can be used to ensure that products meet the specific standards and quality standards required by the European Union or by the importing countries with which the EU has trade agreements.
4. Simplification of administrative procedures : Certificates of origin simplify administrative and customs procedures by providing clear and official proof of the origin of goods. This facilitates customs clearance and entry into the destination market, which is essential for the smooth functioning of the European single market and trade with third countries.

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What countries are affected?

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Countries where a certificate of origin is mandatory for all goods:

Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, China, China, Egypt, India, China, China, China, Egypt, India, China, Egypt, India, China, China, Egypt, India, China, China, Egypt, India, India, Indonesia, Indonesia, Indonesia, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Pakistan, Philippines, Pakistan, Philippines,

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Countries where the certificate of origin is only mandatory for certain products:

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Colombia, South Korea, Colombia, Colombia, South Africa, South Africa, South Africa, South Africa, South Africa, South Africa, South Africa, South Korea, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, United Arab Emirates, United States, United States, Japan, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Africa, South Africa

Example of products for which CO may be requested: food products, chemical products, and textiles.

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What information should be included on a certificate of origin?

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1. Exporter:
   • Name: XYZ Export Company
   • Address: 123 Export Street, City, Country
2. Importer:
   • Name: ABC Import Company
   • Address: 456 Import Avenue, City, Country
3. Goods description:
   • Type of product: Televisions, Radios... (repeat the description of the invoice)
4. Quantity of goods:
   • 1000 television units
   • 500 radio units
   • Total net weight of televisions
   • Total net weight of radios
5. Country of origin of the goods:
   • Country: France
6. Commercial Invoice Number:
   • Invoice No: 789456

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I am an approved exporter, do I still need to obtain certificates of origin?

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Yes, if you are exporting to one of the countries in the list below

Algeria

Saudi Arabia

Bahrain

bangladesh

china

Egypt

india

indonesia

iran

israel

Jordan

kuwait

lebanon

morocco

oman

pakistan

philippines

qatar

tunisia

Turkey

vietnam

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